AJMC Staff

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

Several states should expect fewer doses next week of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine; a new analysis finds that prescription opioid use has dropped by 60% since 2011; availability of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in Southern California reaches 0%.

Eli Lilly & Co is set to acquire Prevail Therapeutics Inc for almost $1 billion; Pfizer’s coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine vials found to contain extra doses; a new treatment has been approved for patients with advanced breast cancer.

Samples show certain subgroups of men with prostate cancer are more receptive to radiation therapy; FDA grants emergency use authorization to an at-home coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test; Anthony Fauci, MD, says COVID-19 herd immunity is possible by spring 2021.

FDA regulators find Moderna's experimental coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine safe and effective; 27 states and the District of Columbia are asking HHS to step in regarding drug companies restricting access to 340B pharmaceuticals; pandemic worsens food insecurity in America.

AstraZeneca has agreed to acquire Alexion Pharmaceuticals for $39 billion; CDC issues coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine guidance for those with a history of severe reactions to vaccines; 2.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses began traveling this past weekend to all 50 states.

The authors wrote that in states that expanded Medicaid health insurance coverage in 2014, there was an increase of early-stage colon cancer diagnoses compared with states that did not implement expansion.

Scientists in Japan describe how a population of spinal cord astrocytes appear to have a role in producing pain hypersensitivity.

Patients with COVID-19 and end-stage renal disease were 11 times more likely to be admitted to the hospital than patients without kidney disease.

A recent review examines the prevalence of headache among patients with multiple sclerosis, particularly migraine.

The findings help explain why costly CAR T-cell therapy does not work for some patients.

The genes are part of the family that cause cancer cells to grow.

A funding dispute over how to account for a Veterans Affairs (VA) health care program is stalling deal to fund the government for another year; the Supreme Court rules in a case involving states and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs); the antiepileptic drug ezogabine lowered the pathologic excitability of cortical and spinal motor neuron cells, which have a role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The United States reports a record 3000 daily coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths; the House of Representatives passes bill in support of marijuana research; data show rises in prescription drug list prices.

Kazia Therapeutics will report the full results at a future scientific meeting.

Pfizer CEO shares his expectations for its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine approval; peer review results are in for AstraZeneca and Oxford University’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate; there are now competing legislative proposals on surprise medical billing protection.

Inqovi is an orally administered, fixed-dose combination of the DNA hypomethylating agent, decitabine, and cedazuridine, an inhibitor of cytidine deaminase.

The United Kingdom administers the first doses of Pfizer's coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine; an FDA review confirms the safety and efficacy of Pfizer's vaccine; Fauci advises holiday gatherings be limited to 10 or less people.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine doses to be administered this week in UK; President-elect Joe Biden nominates HHS secretary, CDC director; Biotechnology Innovation Organization sues to block new international drug pricing policy.

One patient had a complete response and the majority of patients achieved disease control at 12 weeks.

Previous studies have suggested that migraine is linked with higher visual neuronal excitability, which can be inhibited through noninvasive brain stimulation.

The United States is becoming older, more diverse, and more overweight, and these changes may influence future trends in certain hematological cancers.

President-elect Joe Biden will call for 100 days of mask-wearing on inauguration day; HHS announces maternal morbidity action plan; Pelosi, McConnell in virus relief talks.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

The United States reports record numbers of hospitalizations and deaths due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); the CDC updates its quarantine recommendations; Moderna will soon start testing its COVID-19 vaccine in children.

Use of selexipag in patients with connective tissue disease–associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) resulted in outcomes similar to those seen in patients with idiopathic PAH, despite the traditionally poorer prognosis of CTD-PAH.

Avazo-Healthcare warned by the FDA about its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing kits; Pfizer, BioNTech get first COVID-19 vaccine approval; risk for Guillan-Barré syndrome from flu vaccine deemed insignificant.

The first blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer disease is now for sale; AstraZeneca will sell the rights to its cholesterol drug Crestor for $320 million; Black children are disproportionately affected by severe syndrome linked with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Anthony Fauci, MD, warns of potential upticks in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after holiday travel; the United Kingdom is set to give the first approval to Pfizer, BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate; health officials from South Carolina to offer free HIV testing.